Tick, chigger, mosquito... Ahh summer.

[patrickg]

A part of rural living that is not so much fun is the bugs that bug ya. Lyme disease and a lot of less potent problems, what to do. I have researched this subject a mite (OK, a cheap pun) before my wife would buy into a rural acreage in south central Oklahoma. As if the "Tornado Alley" label wasn't a big enough deterent there are nearly as many bugs 'round these parts as the Amazon basin. I kill 6-8 kamikaze beetles per night, attracted to the computer screen many hit me in the head (no reflective bald spot comments, its turnin' white but it is still there).

Anyway, I wonder what stuff denizens of the tractor net use and to what effect? My research turned up the stuf that was an outgrowth of a DoD interest for repellants to be used by the troops in some pretty challenging regions (bug wise) where failure could be disease not just discomfort.

http://www.scs-mall.com/ Has a good description of various generic bug juice approaches.

Try http://www.scs-mall.com/repellents.htm

The chigger info was pretty good too. http://www.scs-mall.com/chiggers.htm

I was getting alltogether too many ticks, even when using deet based spray, T H E N I found the box with the Permethrin in it and treated me some duds. Haven't found a single one on me since. I know, I know, ticks have a place in the world too but I especially like the part where Permethrin doesn't actually repell ticks, it kills them by the time they walk a couple feet on treated cloth.

Now that I think I fould the "Right Stuff", I'm shoppin' price. Like to hear what the rest o' y'all think 'bout this.

Patrick, in the bug infested jungles of south central Oklahoma.

I have never purchased any product from these folks but did opt for what was called the DoD system a while back. The DoD system, as I employ it, is Permethrin in non-aerosol spray bottles for putting on socks, pants, and outermost shirt. You wet the outer surface and let it dry a couple hours, longer (4 or more) in high humidity. This lasts through a few washings. Part two is the protein micro-encapsulated deet cream. Put this on areas exposed to attack where you aren't covered by the Permethrin protected clothes. Low absorption - high effectivity and it lasts but can be washed off with a good washing with soap and water. The Peremethrin I bought was trade name DURANON and was expensive. (Looking for better price for Permethrin, accepting suggestions.)

 

[Alan L.]

Sulphur in a sock works for chiggers. Just bounce it off your ankles a few times and you're set.

Alan L., TX

 

[Boondox]

My neighbor's guinea fowl gobble up so many bugs the only thing left is the skeeters. No ticks. No fleas. Few flies. No moths. If they didn't have poops the size of golf balls I'd get some myself! The problem is my dogs love those golf balls...and then want to kiss me! Yuck! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

I was out in my field the other day and heard two bugs talkin'. One said "Do we eat him here or drag him down to the swamp?"

"Better eat him here," the other bug said. "If we drag him down to the swamp, the big bugs might take him away friom us."

SHF

 

[cowboydoc]

We just use the permethin that is found in horse and cattle based sprays. It's relatively cheap and no adverse affects. I go through a change of clothes a day in the summer so I can't imagine it would be too cost effective to use the stuff you have. We also will spray for them four or five times a year as well to keep the numbers down.

 

[patrickg]

Thanks for that thought. I stumbled onto some ag-product Permethrin sources right after I made the original post on this topic. I did find pints of a bit over 13% for under $25 that is way cheaper per oz of active ingredient than the 0.5% sold for clothing bug spray.

I haven't had a chance to check the local ag stores for bigger containers at hopefully cheaper rates. The 13% stuff, when used as the military recommends for fatigues is not very pricey and confers about a year of coverage or 52 washings. Still cheaper is better. One of my concerns re spraying is all the warnings re getting it into your creek or pond, is NOT good for the fish. I have several ponds and very little of my land is not up slope from one of them. Runoff is a concern.

Patrick

 

[Bird]

A local ag chemical place had the Permethrin a couple of months ago at $24.95 a quart, but I don't know what the percentage was; didn't buy any.

Bird

 

[JATO_RaT]

Patrick, your posts are entertaining to read. I do not know what chiggers are, we don't have them out here in California to the best of my knowledge. I understand they are bastards though. Ticks, mosquitos, we got those. Summer to me living here in the Foothills just above the great foodbasket of California is the sound Rainbirds. Something about them that relaxes me. I have 116 of them so I am rather relaxed. Keep up the entertaining posts, Peace out and nude meditation, Rat...

 

[cowboydoc]

It's way cheaper at the co-op Bird. I buy mine in the 2.5 gallon size for $32.

 

[patrickg]

Rat, Thanks for the kind words. Chiggers (AKA jiggers, etc) are little arachnids (tiny cousins to the spider) that hatch in the weeds and looooong to find a mamalian host. Their saliva disolves your skin into a nourishing soup for them. By the time you know they got you (can itch like mad) they are gone, usually within hours, typically less than a day. They get on where they can and typically crawl until they hit a barrier like a waist band on your underpants, elastic in your socks, and like that. There are folk preventatives such as powdered sulphur at ankles and waist. Actually helps. Many well intentioned but blissfully ignorant folks treat the itch site as if the varmit were still there. They paint the spots with fingernail polish to sufocate them(prefer clear if you are going to go to be seen in a swim suit), some use vaseline, campher stuff, kerosene, whatever. They are already gone so you can't kill 'em. Just clean and disinfect the area and perhaps use a topical itch cream or whatever the doctor thinks best.

Patrick